Kevin Gates has dropped two excellent projects this year. His new Murder for Hire 2 EP finds him channeling his inimitable street-bred fury, which, compared to other projects, wasn't a major focus on his debut album. Islah featured a few straight-up pop records, but longtime fans of Gates weren't too surprised at the album's remarkable accessibility, as his ear for melody and his penchant for crisp and dramatic hooks have been constantly improving over the past couple of years. The passion and the stories have always been there; it's his instantly relatable songwriting that has began to shine more recently.
The MFH2 standout "Great Example" has all of the gritty passion of his early work, but it's delivered with the poise of a self-assured superstar. Can anyone drop a hook like Gates right now? Just listen to this one -- both stirring and substantive.
"Talked about behind my back as if I wasn't worthy / Lord knows that I ain't perfect, but I sho deserve it / Family hurtin, no one on Earth pick up the slack but me / Send me somebody who won't turn they back on me" (that's just half of it)
The track is another example of Gates' relentless evolution as an artist. The scary thing is that he's just getting started. Stream Murder for Hire 2 here.
Quotable Lyrics
Facing disaster, got it out the mud, we made it happen
Keepin' it loyal wit' yo n*ggas, I'm a great example
You lean on me, I lean on you, great example
You kill for me, I kill for you, great example